What to Do After a Car Accident

After an accident in the car it’s difficult to concentrate. What should you take to protect you, the passengers and the other motorists on the road in front of you?

Due to the emotional and stress that accompany a car accident, there are many mistakes made by drivers which limit their rights to receive compensation from insurance companies as well as other drivers following an accident. Find out what to do after an accident, and what actions to take following an accident, so that you can ensure your rights.

Step 1: Ensure that everyone is safe

The first thing you should do on the site of an accident is to make sure that everyone is safe who are involved. Here are some steps you can do:

• If you can, then turn to the emergency lights.
• If the incident is more than an accident of a minor nature or if any person is injured, dial 911 and get emergency services and the police to the scene as soon as is possible. Even if the incident was not too serious it is still advisable to contact the police for an official police report.
• Contact the police non-emergency hotline for minor accidents.
• If there are flares, put them around the scene so that other drivers are aware of the issue. In other words, turn on your warning lights.
• Keep at the area of the accident until police let you go.

Keep in mind that the health and safety of those that were affected by the accident is more important than any financial considerations, therefore ensure that you are taking the proper security precautions immediately.

Step 2: Assess the scene and exchange details

Once you’ve confirmed that everyone’s physical and safe, it’s the time to begin taking stock of what took place as well as taking steps to ensure your rights are protected. Here’s what you must do:

• Capture photos from the cars as well as the debris that was left in the area at which the accident occurred.
• Move the vehicles as quickly as you can following the taking of photos on the location. But, don’t move the vehicles if it’s unsafe to move them.
• Do not admit you were wrong or make excuses for what transpired. This might be considered rude and sloppy, but admitting to wrongdoing can be detrimental should the case end up in the courtroom. It is possible to express your concern and take the necessary steps to seek medical attention, without admitting guilt.
• Exchange contact details and auto insurance details with other drivers at the scene. This is crucial later should there be any claims related to the incident. If the driver who was at fault has no insurance ensure that you have current contact details for the driver. You’ll need to gather the following details.
  • Name of the driver who is not mentioned as well as the address and number.
  • The insurance details of the other driver and the policy number.
  • The driver’s license of the other driver’s number.
  • The year, year of manufacture as well as the model vehicle and the license plate number.
  • Images of the scene of the accident including the accident, the collision, as well as the damage to property caused by the vehicles and other property.
  • Accident report number.
  • Information on any police officers including their names as well as badge numbers.

These first steps will set the beginning of an outcome should you have to take legal action at some time.

Step 3 – Find out the car insurance coverage available.

What kind of insurance coverage is available following a car accident will depend on the party responsible and the type of insurance coverage each driver had. Let’s take a look at an example in which the incident wasn’t your responsibility.

The insurance policy of the other driver will be able to cover:

• Damage to your car and any other property that exceeds the policy limit of the other driver.
• Your passengers and you’re medical bills and expenses are up to their insurance policy’s maximum for bodily injuries.

Your insurance policy will include:

• In certain states, drivers may carry personal injury coverage or PIP coverage, in their insurance. This insurance protection is available regardless of who is responsible and may cover medical expenses. In some instances it may even cover the loss of earnings, lost services funeral costs, and lost wages.
• Underinsured or uninsured coverage can protect your home from injuries or medical expenses in the event that the other driver wasn’t having enough insurance.
• The policy could include car rental costs when you require the rental car due to it was destroyed and required repairs or damaged and you require transport until you are able to purchase another.

Step 4. Contact your insurance company.

The next step is to contact your insurance company to report the incident. It is always recommended that you’re the first to make a call regarding an accident rather than waiting for an other motorist or insurer of the other driver to make a claim before you even call. Inform your insurance company of what happened in the incident so that they can begin building claims for you. They may want to send an adjuster from their office to the scene for an assessment.

In the event of an accident with your vehicle You must always notify your insurance provider, even if it appears to be minor. It’s essential that you call them within a reasonable period of time. Apart from the protection this offers, it could be included in an insurance agreement. Failure to comply with this could place your rights to receive compensation at risk.

What is the significance of this action? It’s crucial for your security. The results of a car wreck tend to be not evident from the beginning but you could suffer injuries in the future that require you to turn over to your insurance company at a later date. It is the same for the other drivers involved who were involved in the incident. In addition, other drivers may decide to take legal action against you, based on the circumstances of the collision. If you’ve not reported the accident to your insurance company, you could be excluded from coverage.

Step 5 – Contact an attorney

Once you’ve reported the accident with the insurer, the next phone call should be to a reputable lawyer for car accidents. Even if you believe the incident was not that serious but you never know the consequences that could come out, and you’ll need to ensure that you’re protected. Additionally, you’ll require an attorney for car accidents in your corner regardless of whether the insurance company appears like it’s going to be able to pay for the damages. Be aware that insurance companies are trying to pay the lowest possible amount, and they may not keep your best interests at heart. A lawyer will assist in ensuring the rights of your interests and property are secured in this case.

What are the steps to choose the best attorney? Find one that includes:

• Particularly with car accidents
• A free consultation discussing your case
• A lengthy list of qualifications
• An individual you can collaborate with
• A reputation for fighting vigorously for the rights of his clients

After you’ve hired an attorney, it’s crucial to be aware of the questions you should ask. Here are some great questions to inquire about, even before the legal process starts:

• What do you think of my case?
• What is the probability it is likely that I’ll be able to obtain a settlement or a judgement?
• What amount can I realistically anticipate to be able to
• Do you think we’ll have to testify?
• Do you think that the mediation or arbitration process would work?
• What is the timeframe you think it will be to finish my case?
• What elements are working in our favor or for us or

You must remember that you require an attorney even if you’re not seeking compensation. There’s no idea if other parties plan to seek compensation or go to court to prove your involvement in the matter. Engaging a lawyer in the early stages gives the lawyer the time needed to build an argument if and when it becomes necessary.

Step 6 – Begin to collect the records

Even if you believe the incident was just a minor situation and you’re accomplished, you must keep meticulous documents. It’s impossible to predict when a lawsuit will rear its head or receive a phone call from a lawyer for a driver, informing you that a lawsuit is beginning. To ensure the best protection, you must keep complete documents of the incident. What you need to gather and save:

• Reports on damage and inspections for the motor vehicle including estimates for repairs and repairs, receipts, appraisals for a vehicle that is totaled and invoices.
• Reports from the police related to your incident.
• Any medical record at all including any reports from the emergency department or doctor, medical bills and the records of treatment which you’ll have to request from your physician and any other medical records of chiropractors or therapists, or other specialists you consult after the accident.
• Reports related to your earnings that indicate the amount of time you took off from work to receive treatment or to recover from injuries. Make sure you include details regarding the time you can take off to attend appointments as well as any restrictions the injuries caused to you that limited your ability to perform your job.
• An individual journal that details all non-economic and physical aspects related to the accident, such as emotional impacts that are difficult to measure. There is a chance that you could be entitled to compensation for the mental and stress problems that can arise following the accident, therefore it is essential to keep an account of the details of these.

Create a folder you can put all of the records in immediately.

Step 7 – Seek medical attention

If you’re involved in a car crash and appear to be suffering from a some injuries, you may try to avoid the hassle of going to the doctor. But this isn’t an ideal choice. It’s essential that you have an evaluation that is complete within a couple of days of the incident to ensure that you can record the results. It’s typical for those involved in minor accidents to not be able to notice signs of injury until days, weeks or months after the incident. Except for severe injuries, most of the most common injuries following an accident are not apparent for a long time.

There are several motives for this. Car accidents are the first to trigger the release of endorphins as well as adrenaline in your body as the “fight or flight” response starts to activate. This often causes the discomfort from injuries last for a while after the whole process is completed. Your increased level of exuberance means that you won’t be able to feel the pain of the injuries you sustained or injuries, even if they’re quite serious.

In addition to the impact of endorphins is that accidents in the car tend to result in tissues injuries. This includes injuries to ligaments, muscles and tendons that connect the bodies. Even accidents that occur at moderate speed exert an enormous amount of stress on the body, causing those soft tissue traumas. Since soft tissue injuries don’t cause blood loss or fractures to bones they are not obvious to you them until weeks later following the incident.

If you are making an appointment, you must ensure that you choose the right kind of doctor. There are a variety of options to choose from:

• A trip to the ER In the event that you are experiencing any discomfort following an incident or if children are involved, you should visit the emergency room to be evaluated immediately.
• Visit to your primary doctor – If you believe that your injuries are not enough to necessitate a trip to an ER then schedule a visit with your primary doctor within the shortest time possible following the incident. Contact the day before or the next day after the incident to make an appointment. Document the time you called to prove that you acted quickly.
• A visit to chiropractors – Chiropractors are specifically trained to detect spinal and soft tissue injuries that result from car accidents and they might be able of identifying issues which your regular physician does not have the experience to detect. You should consider scheduling a consultation with a chiropractor to make sure that all your bases are covered while you work to restore your strength and health.

Be sure to schedule an appointment within 72 hours of the time of the accident even if it’s an uninvolved medical check, and not a full assessment on your injury. If you are waiting longer than 72 hours and the insurance company is not notified, they will include an additional “value driver” to your score on their software. This can affect the amount you receive in your final settlement and could be applied in court should you be heard in court to show that your injuries weren’t excessive. In the end, jurors will presume that serious injuries require prompt medical care.

If you are seeking medical attention ensure that you do not divulge your medical records to insurer of the other party. You can let your lawyer or insurance company, which is working for your best interests, manage this process according to their opinion. required and appropriate.

Step 8 – Avoid a quick settlement

When the driver who caused the accident was the one to blame in the crash If you are in the position of being at fault, their insurance company contacts you and demands an rapid settlement. The insurance company might provide you with a lump sum of money in exchange for signing a release form the possibility of future lawsuits. The amount often is large enough, so you might be enticed to sign.

Do not take this risk. You must ensure that you have been thoroughly assessed by the chiropractor and the physician before you sign anything and allow your body enough time to ensure that no more injuries occur. Also, don’t make a decision to sign the release until after you have met with an attorney to make sure you that your settlement will be fair equitable. Keep in mind that signing the release signifies that you are no longer entitled to the legal right to seek any compensation by the insurer or other party, so you should only sign it if you are sure it’s an adequate settlement.

Step 9: Get the car repaired

After speaking with an attorney as well as your insurance company and your doctor do you need to think about your vehicle. Be sure to receive estimates to have your car repaired immediately however, if you’re using alternative transportation options, you may prefer to wait until you have a settlement in order to be able to have repairs made. Take into consideration every aspect of the repairs that you make to your car, such as:

• Mechanical work
• Tires
• Body work
• Replacement of seat belts , as well as car seats for children damaged due to the accident

It’s easy for people to ignore certain aspects, like the carseats, when faced with the growing costs for repairs and medical bills however, all of them must be included when you seek to recover compensation for the accident as well as the financial loss it caused.

Step 10 – Be aware of the potential dangers

The most basic steps to follow following accidents are similar, no regardless of the circumstances surrounding the incident, however it doesn’t mean there aren’t pitfalls that can occur. Here are some things to look out for:

• Statute of Limitations – Every state has a statute of limitation which is a specific time period within which you have to bring a lawsuit in an auto accident. Even if there is no intention to pursue a lawsuit and settle your insurance claim, you must submit and pay your insurer before the deadline otherwise the other insurance company is unlikely to negotiate with you. Consult your lawyer regarding the time limit for filing a lawsuit.
• Uninsured Driver If the driver at fault is not insured, you could be liable for all expenses and costs that come with it without insurance coverage. If the expenses are substantial it could be necessary to sue the driver for the amount you require. In the event that your policy includes an uninsured driver driver the insurance company might cover the charges you have to pay. Consult your lawyer on the best options for you.
• The Early Settlement companies tend to be in a hurry to settle the claim. There’s a good reason for this. Insurance companies understand that the consequences of a car crash tend to linger. If they settle the case and you accept the settlement, you won’t be able to come back later and request more money. Check that all of your medical treatments are completed and settled, as well as the car’s repairs have been completed prior to considering the possibility of settling.
• Unexpected Costs – The expenses that result from a car crash are far more than the basic injury and cost of fixing the car. Many people fail to take into account all costs involved, and then end up with a settlement much too small. This is the reason hiring a lawyer is essential during the process of settling claims.

Rememberthat a car accident could have lasting effects that last for a long time after the initial collision. Make sure you take the appropriate steps immediately following an accident to safeguard your rights. This way, you are prepared for any eventuality that might arise.